Chicken, Potato and Corn Chowder

Gluten free - dairy free - sugar free - nut free - egg free - can be vegetarian
    In June 2013 one of my besties, who lives across the ocean, posted on Facebook that she was making a batch of potato and corn chowder. I thought that it sounded good and asked for the recipe. She sent it through with the note saying it is incredibly basic, and not to get too excited about it! She was right- it was incredibly basic - but with so much potential! So, I've tried it a couple of times now with my own additions and I'm excited to share the result. The original recipe came from a book Called Mom's Best Country Recipes- a small paperback tourist cookbook that my friends Mum (Mom) brought back as a gift from the Ozarks of Missouri. Sounds homely, hey? It is!  And it's just perfect for this time of year as winter comes upon us.
    I've figured out a process to make this soup at the same time as you make a big batch of chicken stock- enough for the this soup and at least another 2 soups! I love saving time! If you don't have time to have the stock boiling for 2-3 hours before you make the soup, that's fine, just use pre-made stock (chicken or vegetable), and leave the chicken out. I originally made it without chicken and it's still really good. Or, this would be a great soup to make with any leftover meat after a roast chicken dinner. But, let me say, if you have the time to boil the chicken and make the stock from scratch, this will be one of the best immune-boosting, healthy soups you will make. Research has now proven that mum's good old cold-and-flu remedy of chicken soup (made from chicken on the bone) really does boost the immune system. Combine that with the ginger and garlic I've added to the soup, and you've got a winner. You add the ginger and garlic right at the end, to retain most of it's wonderful nutritious properties.
     Serves 4 as a main.

Ingredients for the stock:

• 2 onions
• 3 carrots
• 2 celery sticks
• tablespoon whole peppercorns
• 2-3 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon salt
• a few sprigs of parsley if you have it
• one whole organic or free range chicken

Method for the stock:

• If you don't want 'grease' in your soup, skin the chicken. Don't freak out, it's quite easy! Find a spot that you can grab the edge of the skin and just start pulling. It comes off quite easily. Cut away any chunky bits of fat that didn't come off with the skin.
• Put all your ingredients into the pot and cover with water, filling as high as possible without risking it overflowing when boiling. My pot is quite large- I had about 6 litres of water. If your pot is smaller, reduce the amount of ingredients or you'll have a very strong stock.
• Bring to the boil over high heat, then reduce to low and simmer away for at least 2 hours- 3 is better!!
• Remove the chicken and once it has cooled a little, shred it into small, bite-sized bits. You'll need about half of it for the soup. Save the other halve for another meal or sandwich meat.
• With a slotted spoon, remove all the vegetables and peppercorns from the stock and discard. You will be left with a lovely liquid stock- some of which you will put into your soup. I put the rest in 1 cup quantities into zip lock bags and freeze them for later.
  
  Ingredients for the soup:
• 4 medium sized potatoes, dices into small (1cm) cubes
• 3 cups chicken stock (pre-made, or see directions above)
• Shredded cooked chicken meat from half a chicken or two large breasts
  
• 1/2 cup almond milk (or other non dairy milk)
• 2 small onions, diced into small 1cm pieces
• 2 large corn cobs, kernels stripped off, OR about 1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons rosemary, finely chopped (you could use parsley if you don't have rosemary)
• 2 tablespoons brown rice flour(or white if preferred)
• 1 tablespoon organic butter or coconut oil
• 4-6 cloves garlic (depends how much you like garlic- I like a lot!)
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger (or minced if you don't have fresh, but fresh is best)
  
   Method for the soup:
• Put butter or oil into a large soup pot and turn onto med heat. When butter or oil has just melted, add onion and saute until slightly coloured.
• Add flour and stir constantly for about 20 seconds till it is slightly brown.
• Add potato, corn and rosemary or parsley and stir briefly until coated in flour and onion.
• Add stock and milk. Bring to boil and cook until potatoes are very tender.
• Add the reserved chicken, garlic and ginger. Season.
• Boil for a minute, check flavour for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
• Serve in bowls, with some garlic bread or bread rolls if desired.